Voces8 US Scholars Opens St. Andrew Concert Series on October 20

The St. Andrew the Apostles Concert Series presents the vocal ensemble Voces8 US Scholars under the baton of Paul Smith, co-founder of VOCES8, with Brazilian Flutist Daniela Mars in a free concert on October 20 at 4 PM in Clifton, Virginia.

About Voces8 US Scholars

The 2023 Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. In 2017, they launched the US Scholars Program: a training opportunity for talented singers who have a particular interest in choral and small ensemble singing. Each year, an extensive and competitive audition process produces twelve stellar singers who receive tutoring from Paul Smith, Erik Jacobson, and VOCES8 with opportunities to perform and record alongside VOCES8. A concert by the Voces8 US Scholars is a unique opportunity to hear the next generation of great vocal artists. The Voces8 US Scholars program boasts an astounding number of alumni who are the rising vocal stars of this generation.

About Paul Smith

Paul Smith is an innovative and creative performer, conductor, composer, inspirational educator and an empowering public speaker. As co-founder of Grammy-nominated VOCES8, author of The VOCES8 Method and CEO of the VOCES8 Foundation, his annual program sees him working globally in prestigious concert venues, festivals, schools, universities and wider communities.

Paul is passionate about the impact singing and the arts can have in the widest possible context – from academic improvement to social skills and building more cohesive communities. He uses that passion to design and deliver unique, inclusive and uplifting performance projects. Collaboration is a key word to describe Paul’s approach to music making, and in recent collaborations, Paul has been thrilled to work with artists including Paul Simon, Eric Whitacre, percussionist/composer Teena Lyle, stage designer Julia Hansen (Glyndebourne, Santa Fe Opera) and opera director Anisha Bondy (Komische Oper Berlin).

Paul has been singing for more than 30 years, first as a boy chorister with the choir of Westminster Abbey, and, since 2005 with VOCES8. As a recording artist with Decca Classics, Paul has featured on best-selling, chart-topping albums and won a host of international awards. He was an Executive Producer on VOCES8’s Grammy-nominated album “The Lost Birds”. His first album as a solo artist, Reflections, was released in 2019 and entered the top 10 in the UK Specialist Classical Charts. His 2022 album, ‘Renewal?’ has received wide critical acclaim.

About Daniela Mars

Daniela “Dani” Mars, a Trevor James Flutes Artist, is a Brazilian flutist raised in Japan, South Korea, Brazil and England. She is an inspiring soloist, composer, educator, and social media persona, enjoying a rich artistic life driven by a love of nature and travel. From the deepest caves of Vietnam to the mountains and waterfalls of her homeland in Brazil, Daniela loves to make music with her flutes and be connected with the natural world. Her interactive concerts with flutes, voices, and piano provide immersive musical experiences for audiences.

Daniela has a particular interest in extended flute techniques and specializes in performances with the low flutes. As such, she is passionate about working with living composers to create and bring to life new repertoire for these beautiful instruments.

Support the Arts

While this event is free to the public, your donations are essential for sustaining this concert series at St. Andrew the Apostle. A free-will offering will be collected during the concert, and credit card donations can be made at the reception or online anytime at http://www.st-andrew.org/concerts. After the concert, stay for a complimentary post-concert reception with light refreshments where you can mingle with friends and meet the artists.

For More Information

St. Andrew the Apostle is located at 6720 Union Mill Road, Clifton, Virginia. For more details about the St. Andrew the Apostle Concert Series, visit http://www.st-andrew.org/concerts or call 703-817-1770.